9:55AM
Steve's Blank Slide
While watching the iPad 2 event, I noticed a few times where Steve advanced to a blank slide and just talked. It allowed the audience to focus on him as he built up to the next image and it was pretty smart. Maybe this is a simple trick but it never occurred to me before. Expect a few blank slides in my next presentation.
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Reader Comments (4)
Exactly, rarely seen, but very effective. In front of a smaller audience than Jobs is usually facing, switching to a blank screen will force everyones attention on your face immediately. In the times before .ppt the same effect has been evoked by switching off an overhead projector.
oh, I thought that you are using "turn off" button during your presentation as some of the presenters.
I do this in my keynotes when i need to make a complex point and it really does work. you can feel the collective gaze shifting your way.
I've used the screen going dark trick for some time but having a blank slide is, in my opinion, different. It is deliberate and not as distracting (the presentation doesn't stop). I'm looking forward to trying it though I expect you can only get away with it sparingly.